Hailed as a national hero, he seized political power over France in a 1799 coup.
Napoleon Bonaparte first gained fame when he helped France wrest an unlikely victory against the Austrians in Italy in 1796-earning him the nickname the “Little Corporal.” His military prowess led to even more victories, all characterized by daring, even foolhardy, strategies. Print By Frédéric Dubois, The Trustees of the British Museum Who was Napoleon?
Right: Napoleon's attempts to conquer Europe had earned him many enemies-and satirists delighted in depicting his downfall in political cartoons.
